Man United star Lisandro Martinez reveals he nearly quit football during recovery
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
The centre-back recently returned from an injury.
Lisandro Martinez, a defender for Manchester United, has shockingly admitted that amid his recent injury nightmare, he was on the verge of quitting professional football.
During the most difficult times of his recovery, the Argentine star admitted that he felt “no longer a football player.” The psychological and physical effects of a severe knee injury nearly caused him to give up football completely.
The United defender has courageously talked about the intense mental health struggles he endured during a terrible year on the sidelines, acknowledging that he thought about retiring.
The Butcher reveals his vulnerability
In a revealing interview with AFA Estudio, the 27-year-old, fondly known as “The Butcher” for his unyielding style of play, revealed a rare side of vulnerability. He described the “constant struggle” to find the motivation to return to the field.
Lisandro Martinez’s admission follows a difficult time with his fitness. He has only just started playing again at the end of November 2025. The defender was sidelined for nine months after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during a 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford in February.
He was driven to his breaking point by the arduous and lonely recuperation process for a player who lives on physical conflict and intensity.
“You feel like you’re not a football player anymore,” Lisandro Martinez explained, describing the initial aftermath of the diagnosis.
“You feel pain and think you’ll never play football again. A mental and physical imbalance, which, honestly, when I think about it today, I don’t know how I did it.”
The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner disclosed that during the first few weeks of his recuperation, the idea of giving up cemented.
“After the first two or three weeks, to be honest, I didn’t want to play football anymore,” he admitted.
“And then, of course, you become more aware, you get that support.”
Which injury did Lisandro Martinez suffer?
He sustained a knee injury.
Why did Lisandro Martinez think of retiring?
Due to constant injuries.
Has he returned from a knee injury?
Yes, he recently made a comeback on the field.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.